New Orleans Trade Schools

Goodwill Technical College

Goodwill Technical College (approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents in 2015) delivers career certificates in Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, and IT Support Specialist, along with continuing education and customized business training. Classes are on campus with daytime schedules; the school does not list online or evening formats, and students should ask directly about any clinical externship requirements.

Tuition is $144 per credit hour with a cap at 18 credits per semester, and additional fees may apply; a Net Price Calculator is available for estimates. The college is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, confirming it meets occupational training standards. Current enrollment and acceptance rate are not published, so applicants should contact GTC for program-specific admissions details.

• 3400 Tulane Avenue, Suite 2100 New Orleans, LA 70119

New Orleans Career Center

New Orleans Career Center serves ~600 learners annually (with capacity for 1,000+) and builds every program with local employers so graduates step into jobs that pay above a living wage. Training spans five sectors—Healthcare, Building Trades, Engineering/Manufacturing, Culinary/Hospitality, and Digital Media—and high school students can earn industry credentials and, in some cases, college credit.

Schedules include half-day, daily sessions for high schoolers lasting one to three years, while adults complete immersive, hands-on training that uses real employer sites; healthcare pathways include clinicals and externships. Admission is open to all eligible applicants (public HS students in Orleans Parish and adults 18+ with a diploma/GED), and tuition is $0. The center is a nonprofit provider rather than a traditional accredited college; contact NOCC for details on any evening or online options.

• 1331 Kerlerec Street New Orleans, LA 70116

New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute

The New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) was co-founded by Ti Martin, Dickie Brennan, George Brower, and Carol Markowitz and operates as a nonprofit dedicated to preparing students for culinary and hospitality careers. Learners can complete certificate programs in Culinary Arts or Baking & Pastry Arts, covering about 25 subjects and up to 650 hours of training that includes restaurant operations, culinary math, ServSafe® certification, and pop-up café experience.

Classes run fully in person, with daytime (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.) and evening (Monday–Friday, 3 p.m.–10 p.m.) schedules, and a low 16:1 student-instructor ratio supports close guidance. Tuition is $16,000, with total program costs around $16,911 for Baking & Pastry Arts and $16,951 for Culinary Arts, while industry training add-ons like the Hospitality Leadership Academy cost about $500 and LS4L bartending is free.

NOCHI is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education, and while it does not publish an acceptance rate, applicants receive an admissions decision within about 90 days of submitting a complete application package.

• 725 Howard Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130

Southern University at New Orleans

Southern University at New Orleans is a historically rooted public institution created in the 1950s to expand higher education access for Black students, now serving more than 2,000 students each term. SUNO offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Public Administration, College of Education and Human Development, School of Social Work, and School of Graduate Studies.

Students can choose flexible schedules with fully online, hybrid (including limited synchronous sessions), and on-campus weekday, evening, and weekend classes, many of which include clinicals, externships, or internships.

Full-time undergraduate tuition and fees are about $4,205 per semester for 12 credits, while graduate students pay about $5,056 for 9 credits, with additional out-of-state fees for non-residents. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, confirming its authority to award associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees.

• 6400 SUNO Knights Drive New Orleans, LA 70126

St. Agatha Career Schools

St. Agatha Career School is known for its accelerated healthcare training programs that help students enter the field quickly while maintaining strong certification pass rates. Most certificates, such as CNA/Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, EKG Tech, Phlebotomy Tech, and Medical Billing and Coding, can be completed in 4 to 15 weeks, and the school also offers weekly CPR BLS and Heartsaver courses plus monthly healthcare workshops.

Designed for working adults, St. Agatha offers morning, evening, and weekend class options, and the Nursing Assistant program includes bundled clinical experience as part of the total cost. Program tuition generally ranges from $670 to $1,500, with CPR classes priced at $65 and the TABE test available for $30 when required. The school operates with a license from the Louisiana Board of Regents and has open admissions, accepting all eligible applicants who are at least 16 years old and present a valid photo ID.

• 10001 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite 502 New Orleans, LA 70127

Stevenson Academy

Stevenson Academy of Hair Design was founded in 1973 by Dorothy Mitchell Stevenson and now operates in Historic Algiers Point, serving more than 100 students each term and over 10,000 graduates to date. The school offers several programs, including Cosmetology and Barber-Styling (1,500 hours), Manicuring (600 hours), Instructor (750 hours), Shampoo Assistant (40 hours), and 300-hour Refresher and Advanced Cosmetology options.

Full-time students usually attend classes Tuesday through Saturday during the day, while part-time students use evening and weekend schedules, and instructor programs follow separate day schedules to fit different needs.

Tuition costs are approximately $14,000 for Cosmetology and Barber-Styling, $7,000 for Manicuring, $8,000 for the Instructor program, $800 for Shampoo Assistant, and $3,000 for Refresher and Advanced Cosmetology, with net price calculators available online for more personalized estimates. The Academy holds accreditation from the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences and reports a 100% acceptance rate for qualified applicants.

• 401 Opelousas Street New Orleans, LA 70114

Unitech Training Academy

Rating: 4.1 of 5

Established in 1997, Unitech Training Academy has expanded to serve students at its New Orleans campus and other locations across Louisiana. The New Orleans campus offers career-focused programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Electrical, and more, with many completed in 9 months or less. Students benefit from flexible learning options, including traditional, online, hybrid, and evening classes, as well as hands-on externships in select programs. Tuition ranges from $1,800 to $15,495, with financial aid options available for eligible students. Accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), Unitech Training Academy in New Orleans maintains an open admissions policy, ensuring 100% acceptance for qualified applicants.

• 5401 Jefferson Highway Suite D, New Orleans, LA 70123

Upper Iowa University

Rating: 4.6 of 5

Upper Iowa University (UIU), established in 1857, is a private institution that offers a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate programs, along with flexible online and self-paced courses, UIU caters to various student needs.

At the UIU-New Orleans center, students can access a wide range of degree programs with day, evening, and weekend classes. The university facilitates seamless transfers with partner community colleges in the New Orleans area, including Nunez, Delgado, and Baton Rouge Community Colleges.

UIU prioritizes accessible education for non-traditional students, including military personnel, veterans, and adult learners. With accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), UIU ensures the quality of its academic offerings across disciplines such as business, education, liberal arts, science, and technology.

Furthermore, UIU-New Orleans collaborates with local employers to provide tuition grants for employees.

• 2033 6400 St. Claude Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117